AdvOCAcy : your child welfare update, 2019 May

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019
Celebrating National Foster Care Month

Page 1
A Dream Come True!

In celebrating National Foster Care Month, the child welfare community has taken extra time to acknowledge and celebrate foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. The theme this year is "Foster Care as Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents." Strengthening families and focusing on their well-being is the key to building strong communities. Developing partnerships between local agencies, community organizations, and individuals within a family's network is key to building a supportive foundation that supports family reunification and preservation. To learn about becoming a foster parent or supporting a foster parent, call 1-877-210-KIDS or visit www.fostergeorgia.com.
As part of the celebration, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) held its 4th Annual Foster Caregivers of the Year Luncheon and Awards Banquet on May 20, 2019 in Atlanta.
See CELEBRATE, Page 5

While working towards helping a young man in foster care pursue permanency, the Cold Case Project was able to help support his well-being and self esteem when a permanency roundtable resulted in one of his dreams coming true. A huge thank you goes out to DFCS SAAG Linda Taylor and Senator Matt Brass for setting up an outing to a Braves game, where this young man was able to meet his hero, Freddie Freeman!
His placement was also able to help make sure he got back into ROTC - something that he was hoping for. He is now back in and moving up the ranks!
Although his face is blurred in the picture for confidentiality purposes, rest assured that the smile on his face is priceless! Thank you to all involved for helping that smile make it to his face!

Supreme Court of Georgia's Committee on Justice for Children (J4C)

The unedited voices of young people who have been in care:

The Supreme Court of Georgia's Committee on

Justice for Children is focused

on supporting efforts to im-

prove juvenile court proceedings. During the committee's meeting this month, OCA Di-

"A Piece Of My Puzzle"
By Shimaine Quimbley

rector and J4C committee

My name is Shimaine Quimbley and I have been

member Rachel Davidson in care since the age of 8. A piece of my puzzle is joy and

shared updates on OCA, in- balance, how do I balance it and Why am I always full of

cluding goals for promoting joy despite how a day went?

authentic youth engagement.

Amongst other topics, the Balance to me is finding the equal standard of happiness

committee also discussed the and being aware of what makes you smile. My time in

Cold Case Project, the Family care was a joyful but a painful journey, a path of who

OCA Director Rachel Davidson sharing OCA updates
with the J4C committee.

First Prevention Services Act, kinship care, and legislative

knows but could easily be defined by a smile or hug. The age of 17 I found my last puzzle piece to make me not

updates.

only feel normal but start me on a path See VOICE, Page 7

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019

Page 2

Participating in Mental Health Awareness Month

Children's Mental Health Awareness Day at the Capitol

Children's Mental Health Awareness Day at the Capitol was held on May 9, 2019. OCA staff joined over 500

attendees at the event to bring awareness of how our future relies on the well-being of our children, especially their

mental health. At the Georgia Railroad Freight

Depot, various speakers explained Georgia's Sys-

tem of Care which is an organizational framework

designed for the delivery of behavioral health

services and support networks. The event also

included an informational fair where behavioral

health providers shared community resources

and supports. The event was sponsored and sup-

ported by the Georgia Parent Support Network,

Inc., Georgia Department of Behavioral Health

and Developmental Disabilities, NAMI Georgia,

DBHDD Commissioner, Judy Fitzgerald, updating attendees on the achievements to and Voices for Georgia's Children.

fund and support mental health services for our children.

See AWARENESS, Page 9

24th Annual Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter delivered the welcoming remarks for the 24th Annual Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum at The Carter Center held on May 10, 2019. The forum began with a conversation regarding the 2010 settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State of Georgia. Susan
Walker Goico (Director of Disability Integration Project) gave an overview of the terms of the agreement and explained how the settlement came about. The settlement agreement addresses compliance regarding services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illness. Since then, an independent review selected by DOJ and the state to conduct factual investigations to determine compliance with the settlement. Although progress has been made in many areas, the state has opportunities to make further progress in providing assistance and support to those with developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses. As discussed by DBHDD Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald, part of that progress is Governor Brian Kemp's pledge to provide an additional $8.4 million to the Apex program, which is a program started in 2015 by DBHDD that pays for mental health providers to be available in schools.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Photo Credit to The Carter Center

Following the updates on the settlement agreement, the first panel focused on perspectives on school-based behavioral health. One of the panelists, Dr. Garry McGiboney (Georgia Department of Education), provided data on student behavioral health. He presented that "14 percent of children with behavioral health issues receive mostly Ds and Fs on school work." He also addressed misconceptions about student behavioral issues, such as stating in clarity that "not all student behavioral issues are See CARTER, Page 9

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019

Page 3

2019 Emory Summer Child Advocacy Program

As a new member of the

By Jansen Head

child advocacy community, I joined

OCA Deputy Director new staff members and students in the

ESCAP training during the week of May

20-23 at Emory University School of Law. As each day of train-

ing progressed, ESCAP helped build a foundation of knowledge

that allowed me and my ESCAP colleagues to engage in issue

spotting and in a demonstration of a 72-hour preliminary protective hearing with the Honorable Temika Murry (DeKalb County Juvenile Court Judge), Laurie-Ann Fallon (Special Assis-

OCA Director Rachel Davidson presenting on ethics of child representation.

tant Attorney General), Diana Rugh Johnson (serving in the role

of Parent Attorney), and Margaret Riley Schweizer (Fulton

County Office of the Child Advocate). I was impressed with the experts in the field who

educated us on a variety of topics, such as the juvenile court process for a dependency

case, a DFCS overview of a child dependency case, and medical perspectives on child

abuse and neglect. I gained a wealth of knowledge covering many areas of child law;

below are two snippets based on information we received from Tiffany Sawyer on Stew-

ards of Children Program on Child Sexual Abuse and from the Honorable Peggy Walker (Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge) on substance use and child welfare. After receiving this intensive training, I am even more prepared, confident, and motivated to engage in important discussions and achieve outcomes that will make a positive impact on the

Public Policy Panel: Michelle Barclay (AOC), Polly McKinney (Voices for Geor-
gia's Children), State Representative

children and families in our state.

See ESCAP, Page 6 Mary Margaret Oliver (House District 82)

Highlights from Darkness to Light's
Stewards of Children
(Presented by Tiffany Sawyer)

Highlights from "Substance Use and
Child Welfare"
(Presented by Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge Peggy Walker)

Child sexual abuse is any sexual act between an

In Georgia, substance use is the number one problem

adult and a minor, or between two minors, when one exerts faced by law enforcement, child protective services, and the

power over the other. As a society, we often lack the ability to courts. Substance use places children at risk of harm including the

recognize child sexual abuse. In this training, I learned about following:

how children who are or have been sexually abused may feel

or see themselves without us even knowing: Cognitive delays, language deficiencies and delays, poor visual

scanning and motor skills, and working memory difficulties

Blame themselves for the abuse.

(i.e. they give up easily and do not learn incidentally).

Fear even healthy affection.

Danger from exposure to chemicals or drugs including inges-

Feel that others don't really know them.

tion.

Hate themselves.

Inadequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, and/or medi-

Feel powerless or hopeless or both.

cal care.

Experience memories, pictures, smells, and sounds that Frequent absences and tardiness, no school work completed

are re-traumatizing.

at home, no school supplies, no support of school or school

Feel fearful even during times that are "safe".

work, no involvement in school conferences, programs or

Lose hope and trust in other people.

activities, learning disabilities, retention, and/or frequent

Fear being close to others, even in friendships.

moves.

Feel they are not worthy of being loved.

Criminal acts to further the parent's trade (i.e. theft, shoplift-

ing).

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019

Page 4

SCHOOL'S OUT: SUMMER RESOURCES TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE, WELL FED, AND SUPPORTED

For healthy growth and reading success, all children and their families need year-round access to educational and supportive services. Many public and private entities across the state have created an online toolkit with resources for summer reading, learning, safety, and meals. Many thanks to the public and private communities, including the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Georgia Public Library Service, and Georgia Public Broadcasting. Youth and their families can access this toolkit by visiting georgiasummer.org.

Along with keeping children well fed and supported, remember to keep them safe and #LookAgain next time you have a child in the car! For the sixth consecutive year, several state agencies are calling for families and caregivers of children to have heightened awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.
In support of this important challenge, Governor Brian P. Kemp issued a proclamation and named Friday, May 24, 2019, as "Look Again Day" in Georgia. To support others to #LookAgain, keep your eyes and ears open in the community. If you see a child left alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately. Let's keep our kids safe from the summer heat!

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019

Page 5

"My CASA Helped Me"

CELEBRATE cont'd... Honorees and other attendees were wel-

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers who provide compassionate, individualized attention that will help each child in foster care find a safe and permanent home. In Athens-Clarke County, the county DFCS office and CASA coordinators are getting the message out on how momentum toward permanency can occur sooner and more efficiently when we all work together and know how to do so. A returning case manager in that

comed by Candis Jones who serves as GARYSE/Chafee Program Director for DFCS. Following the invocation, DFCS Director Tom Rawlings gave the leadership address and introduced Paul Blough, President of the Adoption and Foster Parent Association of Georgia. Before the honorary awards were presented, Willie Moore Jr. gave an inspirational message to encourage the honorees and guests in their continuous efforts to support children and families in Georgia. Afterwards, DFCS recognized twenty-three honorees including the following:

county office returned in his role as such and Helen Kincaid, Murray Co.

Michael & Barbara McBroom, Jeff

wished he realized how much CASA could have Jose and Paula Bachman, Union Co.

Davis Co.

helped him on his cases the first time he was in Cassie Laminack, Haralson Co.

Timothy & Paula Harbin, Colquitt Co.

his role as case manager. The county DFCS di- Daniel & Jennifer Nolder, Coweta Co. Jim & Erma Barnett, Tift Co.

rector, Dawn Criss, shared that story with their Robert Daggett, Clarke Co.

Carolyn Tabor, Camden Co.

CASA coordinators, Emily Dant and Tasha Ni- Daniel & Laura Wright, Jones Co.

Gracie Kennard, Gwinnett Co.

cholson. Being true to their

See CASA, Page 7

Thelma Ivey, Warren Co. Maleny Marquez, Muscogee Co.

Stephen & Cynthia Wagner, Fulton Co.

Photo courtesy of Athens-Clarke DFCS office. This poster continues to display appreciation for their CASAs.

OCA congratulates all honorees, as well as all other foster caregivers for their continuous support and the great impact they have and continue to make for our children and families!

DFCS Director Tom Rawlings

Pres. Paul Blough, Willie Moore, Jr. Adoption & Foster Featured Speaker Parent Assoc. of GA

Upcoming Events:

June 1-4: National CASA/GAL Conference, Hyatt Regency Atlanta. More info here. June 3: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Overview Webinar. More info here. June 3 and 17: Understanding substance Use Disorders Webinar. More info here. June 8: North District Listening Tour for Young Adults, Edward's Park, Dalton. More info here. June 15: Caregiver Support Group Workshop (to discuss healthcare challenges for youth with intel-
lectual or developmental disabilities). More info here. June 22: Annual Celebration of Excellence, Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter. June 24: Appropriate Utilization of Psychotropic Medications and the Georgia Families 360 Pro-
gram Webinar. More info here. June 28: Deadline to submit a response to the Call for Workshop Proposals for the Summit sched-
uled for November 13-15. More info here. Free courses on child trauma and brain development through the Child Welfare Training Collabora-
tive, multiple and ongoing opportunities statewide. More info here.

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
May 2019

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 6

ESCAP, cont'd... Get to know two ESCAP interns who are entering the child advoca-
cy community for the summer!

Oluremi Abiodun Florida State University
College of Law

Oluremi Abiodun is a student with the Florida State University College of Law where she recently completed her second of four years in a joint-degree JD/Masters in Social Work program. This summer, she will be working in Fulton County Juvenile Court on a research project for Judge Bradley J. Boyd regarding children's constitutional rights, especially in cases where parental rights are being terminated. This will include reviewing current GA Court of Appeals cases where a TPR was overturned and developing arguments about why the TPR should stand if it were to be argued at the GA Supreme Court.
Oluremi is from New Orleans, LA, so she is a die-hard Saints fan and Mardi Gras is her favorite holiday. To her, it's better than Christmas and her birthday. However, she explained that her experiences in New Orleans as a middle schooler during Hurricane Katrina were the first time she saw and experienced inequity. These experiences also promote why she does this work.
The ESCAP training motivated Oluremi to prepare for her internship by allowing her to see the issue of child welfare from so many different perspectives. She was able to interact with attorneys, judges, social workers, nurses, doctors, children who had been in care, and DFCS workers. She is most looking forward to learning from the staff at juvenile court. She hopes to gain exposure on how to litigate these cases and the interactions between attorneys, clients, and the court system with the hopes of gaining more clarity on where she sees herself in this work upon graduation in 2021.

Lauren Paul is a rising second year Master of Social Work student at the University of Georgia where she is pursuing a certificate in Non-Profit Theory and Management. Prior to her master's program, Lauren received her B.S. in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University. Lauren's favorite forms of self-care include running and spending time with her 10-year old rescue cat.
Lauren is grateful to have received the training provided by the Emory Summer Child Advocacy Program, which she feels has equipped her with a comprehensive knowledge of the policies that guide child welfare practice in the state. The training broadened Lauren's perspectives on the most recent shifts in child welfare and opportunities for social workers like her to engage in more preventative work.
She is excited to put this knowledge to work interning at the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center where she will be researching mental health and medication management as it relates to advocating for the best interests of children in the foster care system. Lauren is excited to become a part of the community of Georgia's child advocates who diligently work to improve the lives of children and families across the state.

Lauren Paul University of Georgia

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019

Page 7

Council of Juvenile Court Judges
Spring Seminar (CJCJ)

The Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges held its spring seminar in St. Simons Island on May 6-8, 2019. OCA Director Rachel Davidson and Deputy Director Jansen Head had
the pleasure of joining juvenile court judges from across the state to learn and discuss new state and federal laws that will impact child welfare in the state, including the Family First Prevention Services Act.

Judge Philip Spivey with Judge Juliette Wilshire Scales.

During this time, Chief Juvenile Court Judge of Fulton County, Juliette Scales, was sworn in as the new President of CJCJ! Congratulations, Judge Scales! And job well done, Judge Spivey!

CASA cont'd... willingness and eagerness to help the county DFCS team, they began brainstorming ways to get that message out to other case managers and CASAs. They came up with a poster titled "My CASA Helped Me" and displayed it outside the room where the county office held its monthly permanency staffings, which CASA is invited to. This poster has been instrumental in educating DFCS and CASA on the countless ways CASA plays a huge role in the county's cases. Below are some of the ways that CASA has helped case managers in Athens-Clarke! Way to go, team!

My CASA(s) write the best "My CASA helped arrange visits

court/case notes ever!

between 3 parents. BIG help!"

Melissa Carter (Emory Law) and Chris Hempfling (DFCS) giving an overview of recent state and federal laws.

VOICE cont'd...

to be completely successful. Founding EmpowerMEnt in Re-

gion 8 also known as Columbus,

Ga was the beginning of true lead-

ership for me. I took that and real-

ly ran with it for the first time not

knowing the outcome but taking

the risk. I found my balance when I

graduated high school and wanted

to still be involved so I trusted my

gut and guidance by supports and

kept going. Reaching your poten-

tial under pressure but continuing

to push is joy within finding the balance. My balance is peace and maintaining structure within the rim of having a sustainable life.

Shimaine Quimbley, on the night she received a 2019 Shining Star Award from the Multi-Agency Alliance for

Children (MAAC)

"My CASA volunteers are wonderful! We work as a team to help the families. The communication is fantastic. They have developed a bond with the children and support the families. Court documentation is a plus! Love them."

"My CASA obtained a parent's records so I wouldn't have to, got to know the parents and built a rapport, attended visits with me, attended the parent's treatment graduation, contacted relatives, and kept me updated about all her work! She went above and beyond!"

Congratulations, LaKisha Pitts, MSW!
Please join OCA in congratulating LaKisha Pitts in her recent graduation from Georgia State University with a masters degree in social work! Ms. Pitts served on the OCA team as an intern during her last year of study.
To all recent graduates achieving their masters degree in social work, OCA wishes you all the best in your endeavors and looks forward to seeing the difference you all will make in the communities across state for our children and families!

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019

Page 8

Bringing Awareness to Sex Trafficking

"The UnHoly Tour"

Warning Signs of Trafficking

By Shantelle Whitehead, OCA Investigator

The youth frequently travels with an older male or

person who is not their guardian.

I recently participated in "The UnHoly Tour", which seeks to raise awareness of the issues of sex trafficking by having participants



The youth shows signs of physical trauma such as unexplained bruises, black eye, cuts or other marks.

board a commercial tour bus and drive through trafficking-prone areas of Metro Atlanta, while hearing from experts in the field. On this par-



The youth shows signs of emotional trauma, including increased fear, anxiety, depression, tension,

ticular tour, about 30 teenage girls from the Carver High school

and/or nervousness.

S.T.E.A.M. Academy participated. In addition to myself, other profes- The youth is labeled as a chronic runaway.

sionals representing non-government & government agencies, law enforcement and nonprofit spoke with the students about personal,



The youth has multiple delinquent charges.

work-related and educational experiences pertaining to trafficking.

The youth has/is currently homeless.

Stories of truth, inspiration and empowerment were shared with the



The youth has special marked tattoos/branding on his/her body (that he/she may be unwilling to ex-

students. Equally, the students on this tour were very engaged and

plain).

inquisitive - they asked lots of questions about risk factors and warning The youth uses substances on a regular basis.

signs. Some of the key risk factors for the students are rooted in elements they are unable to control or change, such as their community.



The youth is increasingly absent from school or missing from home, with no explanation of his/her

They also include pre-existing issues of the sex market (most of the

whereabouts.

neighborhoods we toured are notorious for prostitution-related activi- The youth has started accumulating new clothes,

ty and crime).

shoes, jewelry and a new cell phone that he/she

can't account for.

However, being aware of such risk factors and receiving other relevant information, including educational resources and tools was very em-



The youth has an increase in income without explanation.

powering for all of the participants as they walked away with a better understanding of how to protect themselves and their peers from



The youth is very secretive about his/her whereabouts.

traffickers!

The youth is chatting online with people his/her par-

ents or friends have never met.

The youth has possession of prepaid cards and or hotel keys or receipts.
The youth has suddenly changed his/her appearance such as dressing more provocatively.

The youth has been charged or has a previous record of prostitution.

The youth has an explicitly sexual online profile found on internet community sites, internet classified ads, and/or social media sites.
The youth has no identification or is not in control of his/her identification documents.

OCA Investigator Shantelle Whitehead (fourth from the right) with other participants on "The Unholy Tour".

The youth gives conflicting personal information or stories to law enforcement.
The youth has an unstable home environment. Source: www.gacares.org

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

May 2019

Page 9

AWARENESS, cont'd... In addition to providing information about mental health, the event also involved activities to engage attendees in some fun and empowerment. As pictured below, our OCA staff and a featured youth speaker were excited to join in on the fun to promote children's mental health awareness. Later in the Capitol, youth leaders shared an empowering performance to express their solidarity and support for mental health awareness of the children in Georgia. As pictured below, various youth groups joined forces to celebrate youth empowerment to overcome the stigma that is often associated with mental health diagnoses and services.

OCA Deputy Director Jansen Head and Investigator Beth Smith.

Various youth groups and supporting networks at the Capitol.

due to mental health issues." In redirecting the misconceptions to truth and support,
CARTER, cont'd... Dr. McGiboney gave an overview of the movement for improvement, including suicide
prevention training, PBIS (a proactive systems approach for changing school climate to be more positive, supportive, safe, and secured), and "Power Up for 30". The next panel focused on how the Families First Prevention Services Act could affect Georgia. The panelists discussed how the federal legislation provides an op-
portunity for the state to receive federal funds for services intended to prevent children from entering foster care. The forum also hosted a panel focused on how the state is providing behavioral health services for older adults. Panelists focused on mental health care gaps for the growing older adult population in the state and potential solutions to address them.

DBHDD Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald and Susan Goico (Atlanta Legal Aid Society)

Melissa Carter (Emory Law), DFCS Director Tom Rawlings, and Michael Dailey (Casey Family Programs)

Wendy Eugene (RESPECT Institute), DHS Commissioner Robyn Crittenden, Brian Bruggeman (Three
Rivers), and Cindy Levi (Avita CEO)

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
May 2019

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 10

The Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, Supreme Court of Georgia's Committee on Justice for Children, and the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services are pleased to announce the Call for Workshop Proposals for The Summit: Georgia's Child Welfare Conference to be held November 13-15, 2019 at the Alpharetta Conference Center at The Hotel at Avalon.
You are invited to join other child welfare professionals at the third annual Summit, a statewide, multi-disciplinary conference for sharing best practices, and collaborating across professions. The agenda is taking shape for an extraordinary program for all child welfare professionals case managers, lawyers, judges, policy makers, Court Appointed Special Advocates, stakeholders and anyone interested in improving our system of serving Georgia's abused and neglected children.
If you are interested in being considered as a potential presenter during The Summit, please complete the Call for Workshop Proposals form and click "Submit." The deadline is Friday, June 28, 2019. If you have questions, please contact AK Consulting Group at 850-523-4200. To access and submit the form, click here.

Georgia Office of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children Rachel Davidson, Director https://oca.georgia.gov 7 MLK Jr. Blvd, Ste. 347 Atlanta, GA 30334
For general inquiries, assistance, or to file a complaint: Phone: (404) 656-4200 Internet: https://oca.georgia.gov/webform/
request-oca-assistance-or-investigation
To submit an article for the newsletter: rdavidson@oca.ga.gov

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